Planting implement or attachment



Feb. 4, 1941.

Filed May 22, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Arfhur/Y. Mob/e5 e www ,QMS S, \\\},l////f mQN. NQM .QN n mw Sv o NNN @QH www MW ww www NW QN NN WW wwww Nw kw Nw U SQ n. y v QW Qww NWN NN mN NN www WN www NNN b@ NN mw L. .f www NN @FHH Feb. 4, 1941. A. M. MoBLL-:Y

PLANTING- IMPLEMENT OR ATTACHMENT l 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1959 Arf/la7* M. Mob/ey m w@ vf M Feb. 4, 1941. Y A. M. MOBLEY LANTING IMPLEMNT OR ATTAQHMENT File-May 22, 1939 4 -Sheets-Sheet 3 gime/nm AThur/Vl. Mob/eg 5,43 Summa/gf Feb. 4, 1941. A. M. MoBLl-:Y

PLANTING IMPLEMENT OR ATTACHMENT Filed May 22, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 jwomfvtov Arf/zur M. Mob/ey v W /'d No: mja

Patented Feb. 4, 1941 `UNITED sTATas PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates .to a planting implement or attachment adapted to be removably coupled to, drawn and operated by a tractor.

One prime object is to provide such an implement or attachment as will enable the tractor to be readily driven into and out of hitching relation with respect thereto and has novel means for coupling the distributing parts in rm and eiilcient driving engagement with novel power take-oli' structure on a tractor.

It is also aimed to provide in such an implement or attachment, seed Adischarging mechanism, preferably in association with discharge mechanism for fertilizer, as well as devices operating to open a furrow for reception oi the fertilizer and seed, and thereafter cover .the furrow.

Other objects are to provide novel means whereby the diiferent devices forming .the planting gangs may be adjusted relatively to each other, particularly as to elevation for most effective coaction and operation, wherein such gangs are disposed on each side of the tractor, each gang having means to lift it as a whole, independently of the other gang to clear the soil, as well as means for simultaneously lifting both gangs to clear the soil, and the more specic objects and advantages will, in part, be pointed out and otherwise appear in the following description considered in connection therewith. One operative embodiment is shown by way of exam- -ple in accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved implement or attachment coupled to a tractor;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the parts of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a .perspective view particularly showing one of the auxiliary frames of a planter gang;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of portions of one pair of gang bars orvrods and their adjusting means;

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the planter gangs;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective View showing, detached, the drive from the, tractor countershaft to one of the seeding and fertilizing devices, and

Figure 'l is a iront elevation, fragmentarily showing the implement or attachment in connection with a tractor.

Referring speciiically to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout the different views, -the invention has been shown and will be described in connection with a tractor T. This tractor, by way of example, is of conventional form having a narrow chassis of which I are longitudinal side beams or sills carrying a prime mover I-I and other usual equipment and essentials. A pair of relatively close steering wheels I2 are mounted at the front of the tractor and are under control of mechanism operable by a steering wheel I3 located at the rear of .the .tractor and accessible to the operator or occupant of a seat I4. At the rear end such tractor has a .pair of drive or ground wheels I which are spaced materially outward of the respective side beams or sills I0 and whose axle and driving means pass through a housing I6. Adjacent the rear of such tractor, it has -a suitably mounted rotatable power take-oli shaft I1, in driving relation, under clutch control, Wi-th the prime mover II. In order to accommodate and drive the rot-ary parts of my implement or attachment, a countershaft I8 is journaled in bea-rings I9 fastened on the sills I0, in parallelism to the power take-off shaft I1 and arranged with its ends 20 free and projecting beyond .the respective sills III, such ends being polygonal or otherwise non-circular in cross section (Figures 2 and 6). The countershaft I8 is driven from the shaft I1 in any suitable manner, as by means of a sprocket chain '2| traversing sprocket wheels 22 and 23, respectively, keyed to shafts Il and I8.

Coming now to specific consideration of the attachment or implement of Ithe present invention, it comprises similar gangs generally designated A disposed on opposite sides ,of the trac-V tor. Such gangs are connected together by or suspended from a rigid frame R Iconsisting in .parts of a cross beam 24 at the front thereof and longitudinal beams 25, .the latter being on opposite sides of the tractor. implement is constructed to maintain an erect support in such a position while .the tractor T is driven relatively to the implement or attachment in attaching or detaching the latter.

When the tractor is driven into .the implement, cross beam 24 enters a pair of clevises 26 mounted on sills I0 or .other parts of the tractor chassis, and th'e Tear ends of longitudinal beams 25 enter clevises 21 also mounted on the tractor, for instance, housing I6. Pins 28 may be passed through registering openings in said clevises 26 and 21 and adjacent lbeams, especially being desirable at the latter, as shown.

Pairs of brackets 29(Figure 7) depend from cross beam 24 and the innermost brackets 29 are relatively close to the sills I0 so as .to t the tractor and prevent undesired relative laterali movement between the attachment and tractor.

Each pair of brackets 29 mounts a. suspension rod 30 below and in parallelism to cross beam 24. Pivoted or journaled on each suspension rod 30 is a pair of brackets 3| rigid with drag bars 32, a pair of such drag bars being associated with each gang A. The lower ends of drag bars 32 are angularly disposed in an outward direction to form journals 33 which are pivotally mounted in split clamp members 34 of couplings 35, adjust- The attachment or position of itself or to .be capable of .temporary i ably carried on parallel gang rods or bars 38. If

desired, the clamps 34 may be tightened about the journals 33 through manipulation of nuts on bolts 31, associated with such clamps. The gang 5 bars 36 of each gang A are connected together by a cross bar 38, adjustably clamped thereto by means of plates 39 and U-bolts 40. The bolts 40, when loosened, enable the gang bars 36 of each pair to be moved diierent distances apart and such movement may be effected through manipulation of a lever 4| pivoted at 42 to a collar 43 fastened on one of the gang bars. A link 44 is pivoted at 45 to said lever 4| and is pivoted at 48 to a collar 41 fastened on the companion gang l5 'bar 36. Link 44 adjacent the lever 4| terminates in a toothed quadrant 48. 'I'he movement of the gang bars is eected through the movement of lever 4| and link 44 relatively and they are secured together against displacement through the coaction of conventional spring-pressed latch mechanism 49, with the teeth of quadrant 48.

On the main frame R of the attachment `are side beams 50 which extend rearwardly from the outermost brackets 29, in parallelism to the longitudinal beams 25, such Lside beams and longitudinal beams being rigidly joined by transverse frame members 5| at the rear ends of the side bars. Mounted in any suitable way on the frame as at beams 25-50 and diagonal beams or supports 50' are fertilizer distributing hoppers or containers F andin the rear thereof are seed containers or hoppers S. These devices F and S are of conventional construction and hence, do not require specific description. 'Ihe fertilizer distributor F has a conventional distributing or discharge valve mechanism which is controlled through the rotation of a shaft 54 suitably journalled at the base thereof vwhile the seed container or distributor S has a conventional distributing mechanism or valve controlled through the rotation of a shaft 55 journaled on its base.

Thefertilizer in the'hopper F is discharged through a tube 56 while the seed distributed by the hopper S is discharged through a tube 51. Said tubes 56 and 51 are suspended from their respective hoppers or bases thereof, and they are J preferably of a metallic construction enabling flexure and adiustment.

At the forward ends of the gang bars `36, are soil engaging disks 58 which are journaled for rotation on stub axles 59 carried by standards 60 which are secured at any desired height or angle to the adjacent gang bars 36 by means of clamps 6|, of any suitable form, for instance, having parts 62 adjustably secured against the standards 60 by means of bolts 63. Such disks, are prefer-` ably adjusted so as to operate in the soil at the angles shown in Figure 2.

Reverting to the cross bar 38, it carries a shovel 64 of suitable shape, which may be fastened to a post or standard 65, removably and adjustably connected to bar 38 by Vmeans of U- shaped bolts 6.6 associated with clamp plates 61 and 88 directly engaging the bar 38; 'I'he fer- 65 tilizer discharge tube 56 terminates at its ylower end in therear of and relatively close to the shovel, in order that the fertilizer will enter the furrow provided bythe shovel 64 in the soil.

Disposed directly behind and in line with the shovel 64 and fertilizer discharge tube 56 is a suitable planting device generally designated 69. planting device 89 has a runner or shoe 10 adapted to slide over the soil and its forward edge is preferably deected upwardly as at 1|. Links u 12 are pivoted thereto as at 1s. -A atender or post 14 is adjustably secured to the runner 10 through the binding engagement of screws 15 threaded to angle brackets 18. Links 12, at their rear ends, are pivoted at 11 to the standard 14 and adjustment of the latter is accommodated by 5 a slot 18 in the shoe 10. The shoe 10 carries a guide member 19 at the rear thereof in whichv the lower end of discharge tube 51 terminates, in longitudinal alinement with the shovel and tube 56, in order to discharge seed in the furrow before l0 closing thereof after the deposit of fertilizer therein. A

Each pair of gang bars 36 carries an auxiliary frame as best seen in Figures 3 and,5. Each auxiliary frame 80 consists of a pair of rear parl5 allel bars 8| riveted at 82 to intermediate bars 83, having inwardly extending rear terminal portions 84- fastened as at 85 to the upper end of the standard 14 of the adjacent planting device 69.

A chain or the equivalent 86 is tethered to a 20 staple 81 at the upper end of each standard 14 and to a bail 88 having terminals 89 pivoted in openings of the bars 8|. Chains or flexible elements 86 may be adjusted so as to vary the position of the planting devices with respect' to the 25 soil, through the engagement of one or more of the links thereof with a hook 90 attached to the aforesaid link 44, or other suitable part, as shown best in Figure 3.

Each auxiliary frame 80 further includes a pair 30 of forward bars 9| bolted together as at 92 with the bolt securing a lug 93 thereto from which a chain 94 extends andwhich at its upper end engages a hook 95.4 Bars 9| at their rear ends, have laterally extending lugs 96 which overlap the 35 upper edges of bars 83. 'The bars 83 and 9| by means of bolts or the like 91 are pivoted to angle brackets 98 which are clamped by means of plates 99 and bolts |00, rigidly to the cross bar 38.

Said bars 8| carry conventionalfurrow-cover- 4o ers |0| having lower curved or sweep portions |0| to engage the soil and arms |02 pivoted to brackets |03 on bars 8| at |04. Extending from the upper ends of arms |02 are bolts |05, which slide through enlarged openings in guide lugs 45 |06 on the brackets |03. Nuts or other abutments |01 are carried by bolts |05 and expansive coil springs |08 surround the bolts |05 and atopposite. ends, abut lugs |06 and abutments |01. Springs |08 normally maintain the coverers |0| 50 operatively engaged with the soil, but they permit pivotal yielding of the latter against the tension of the springs |08, in the event lan undue obstruction is encountered.

Said bars 8| mount an axle |09 at the rear 55 thereof on which soil press wheels ||0, are journaled. Such wheels ||0 press the soil in line behind the coverers |0I, but directly press the soil lled into the furrow only adjacent the sides of the latter, thus not unduly compacting the soil 60 in line with the planted seed. An 'archedbracket fastened to the bars 8|, extends over the press wheels and has a blade ||2 disposed in soilclearing relation to the peripheries of the press wheels ||0. 65

Each gang A is capable of raising as a whole 4against thetension of spring means should an undue obstruction be encountered during plantingand each of the gangs A are capable of being adjusted or uned, either together or mdepend- 7 ently, above the soil or to any depth of operation. To this end, a pair of angledevers ||3 and ||4 for each gang of implements A (Figure l) is pivoted as at 4||5 and ||6, respectively, to the adjacent longitudinal beam 25 and each of said le- 75 vers consists of a plurality of bars straddling such beam 25 as shown. Rods ||1 and ||8 are mounted in the lower ends of said levers and they carry a pair of guide couplings ||9 and |20, respectively, in which suspending rods |2| are slidably retained by removablefastenings |22' resting on the levers. Hook 95 is carried by rod I I1, as best shown in Figure 3. The forward two rods |2| for each gang are pivotally connectedto the couplings 35 and the rear two rods I2| of each gang are pivotally connected to the adjacent collars 43 and 41 (Figures 4 and 5). Expansive or cushioning coil springs |22 surround the rods |2| and hold the gangs A to their adjusted positiorr'and against vertical yielding except when undue obstructions may be encounv tered when the rods |2| may slide in the guide couplings |20 against the tension of the springs |22. A link |23 is pivotally joined to levers I3 and ||4 at |24 and |25, respectively, and one'bar of lever ||3 has an extension y|26 from which an elongated arm |21 extends rearwardly and which is pivotaliy and slidably connected at |28 in a. slot |29 of a generally triangular plate |30 pivoted at |3I on the adjacent longitudinal beam 25. Said plate |30 and associated parts are a move- .on the cross beam 24. Thus by-means the linkage described, operation of the levers |32 will effect raising or lowering of the gang with which it is associated. y

The hooks 95 attached to chains 94 are adapted to be suspended on the rods I I1. Another crank |39 is rigid on rock shaft |31 and a link |40 is pivoted theretoat |4I. Link |40 extends rearwardly and belongs to a mechanism specifically forming nol part of the present invention. It is operable, however, either manually or from a driven part |42 of the tractor, or by a combination of manual and power drive to suiliciently swing the crank |39, rock shaft |31 and through links |33 and their connections tothe gangs, will simultaneously lift both gangs.

Reverting to the shafts 54 and 55 which, respectively, control the fertilizer discharge mechanism and seed discharge mechanism, the operating power therefor is derived from the previously described countershaft |8 on the tractor T. To this end, each gang has a transverse operating shaft |43 alined with countershaft I8 and journaled in bearings |44 on'the main frame. v

On the inner end of each operating shaft |43, a coupling sleeve |45 is slidable so as to be movable into and out of engagement with the adjacent portions 20 of the countershaft |8. Coupling sleeves |45 at |46 have sockets |41 con forming to the'non-circular contour of the portions 20. Cotter keys or other fastenings |48 may removably passed through adjacent,

lating the levers |32.

and |54, respectively keyed on adjacent shafts |43 and 55;

To briefly trace the operation, the implement or attachment constitutingthe present invention lwill be drawn or pushed along by the tractor T since it is hitched thereto by` meansof cross bar 24 and coacting clevises 26 and by means of longitudinal beams 25 pinned at 28 to-clevises 21. ends 20 of countershaft I8 by means ofv keys |48 so that the valve or discharge shaft 54 of the fertilizer dlstributer F and valve or discharge shaft 55 of the seed distributer S will be operated by the chains and sprockets |49-I54 from shafts|43 which are driven Afrom the power take-off shaft |1l through sprocket 22, chain 2| and sprocket 23. y

As the tractor advances, disks 58 and shovels 64 of each gang A penetrate the soil so as to provide a furrow which first receives fertilizer discharged at the proper time from distributer F under control of shaft 54 through tube 55 and which furrow then receives seed discharged from distributor S under control of ,shaft 55 through tube 51. Following deposit of the fertilizer and seed in the furrow, the soil which was removed to provide the furrow, is returned to the furrow over the fertilizer and seed by the coverers |02, following which the press wheels engage and suiciently compact the returned soil on each vside of the longitudinal plane in which the seeds were deposited and planted, thus avoiding too tightly compacting the soil over the seed.

The gangs may yield as a whole against the action of springs |22, upon encountering undue obstructions, and the coverers |02 may yield independently against the tension of springs |08.

By means of the mechanisms heretofore traced, the gangs A may be simultaneously lifted to clear the ground through operation of the means |42 while the gangs A may be separately, independently or relatively lifted and Pivots 91 in combination with chains 86 and 94 enable adjustment of the position and angle of the frames 80.

Various-changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Anfagricultural implement having a main frame for attachment to a tractor, 1 laterally spaced apart gang bars, simultaneously operable levers pivoted -on said main frame, spaced apart suspension rods depending from said levers and attached -to said gang bars, an auxiliary frame, means flexibly connecting theauxiliary frame and gang bars, furrow-opening tools carried by the gang bars, a dispenser on .the main frame, gearing on the main frame to operate the dispenser from the tractor, a planting attachment on the auxiliary frame behind said tools and in the line of discharge from the dispenser, and furrow-closing means on the auxiliary frame in the rear of said planting attachment.

adjusted by manipu tachment to a tractor, a beam on said main frame below and outwardly of said longitudinal beams, laterally spaced apart gang bars, levers pivoted to the longitudinal beams, means to operate the levers, means suspending the gang bars from the levers, an auxiliary frame pivoted to .the gang bars, a furrow-opening shovel carried by the gang beam operative to discharge behind the shovel,

means mounted on the second mentioned beam adapted for operation from the tractortooperate said dispenser, a planting attachment on the auxiliary frame behind said shovel and in the line of discharge from the seed dispenser, and

`furrow-closing means on the auxiliary frame in the rear of said planting attachment.

3.' An agricultural implement having a main frame for attachment to a tractor, gang bars, means suspending the gang bars from-the main frame, an auxiliary frame pivotally connected intermediate its ends to the gang bars, a exible suspending element extending from the main frame to the' front of the -auxiliary frame, connecting means for the gang bars, a iiexlble suspending element on the side of the pivotal axis of the auxiliary frame opposite to the iirst exible suspending element, said second flexible suspending element being connected to the main frame and auxiliary frame, furrow-opening means carried by the gang bars, a dispenser on the main frame adapted for ,operation -from the tractor, a

planting attachment on the `auxiliary frame behind said furrow-opening means and in the line of discharge from the dispenser, and furrow-closing means on the auxiliary frame in the rear of said planting attachment.

4. An agricultural implement having a' main frame for'attachment to a tractor, gang bars in laterally spaced relation, means suspending the gang bars from the main frame, members pivotally connected together and connected to the gang bars operable'to secure the gang bars in different adjusted positions, an auxiliary frame pivotally connected to the gang bars, a suspending element extending from one of said members to theauxiliary frame at the rear of the pivotal axis of the latter, furrow-opening means carried by the gang bars, a dispenser on the main frame adapted for operation from the tractor, a plantingl attachment on the auxiliary frame behind said .furrow-opening means and in the line of discharge from the dispenser, and furrow-closing means on the auxiliary frame in the rear of said planting attachment.

5. An agricultural implement having a main frame for attachment to a tractor, laterally spaced apart gang bars, means suspending the gang bars from the main "frame, a furrow-opening means carried by the gang bars, a dispenser on the main frame operative to discharge behind the furrow-opening means, means adapted for operation from the tractor to operate said dispenser, a planting attachment, an auxiliary frame having front, intermediate and rear bars,

means pivoting said front bars to the gang bars and intermediate bars, lugs on the front'fbars rearwardly of the pivotal axis of such bars overlapping the intermediate bars from above, members securing the intermediate and rearbars together, said intermediate bars extending inwardly beyond said members and mounting said planting attachment behind said furrow-opening means in the line of discharge from said dispenser, and furrow-closing means on the rear bars behind said planting attachment.

6. An agricultural implement having a main frame for attachment to a tractor, laterally prises furroW-coverers pivoted to the rear bars,

spaced apart gang bars, means suspendingthe gang bars from the main frame, a furrow-opening means carried by the gang bars, a dispenser on the main frame operative to discharge behind the furrow-opening means, means adapted for 5 operation from the tractorA to operate said dispenser, a' planting attachment, an` auxiliary frame having front, intermediate and rear bars, means pivoting said front bars to the gang bars and intermediate bars, lugs on the front bars 10 rearwardly of the pivotal axis of such bars overlapping the intermediate bars from above, members securing .the intermediate and rear bars together, said intermediate bars extending inwardly beyond said members and mounting said plant- 15 ing attachment behind said furrow-opening means in the line of discharge from said dispenser, members pivotally connected together and to the gang bars operable to secure the gang bars in dierent adjusted positions, asuspending 20 element connected to the auxiliary frame adjacent said planting attachment and to a rear bar, a device on one of the last mentioned members adjustably engageable by the suspending element,

and furrow-closing means on the rear bars behind said planting attachment.

7. An agricultural implement according to claim 5 wherein the furrow-closing means comyieldable spring-controlled means positioning said coverers, and press wheel means carriedby the rear bars in the 'rear of said coverers.

8. An agricultural implement having a main frame forrattachment to a tractor, gang bars in laterally spaced relation, draft couplings on the 35 gang bars, collars on the gang bars rearwardly of the couplings, connected levers on the main frame, suspension rods slidably mounted bytthe' levers and attached to said couplings and collars respectively, cushioning ysprings on said. rods;a members pivotally connected together and to the collars operable to secure the gangbars in different .adjusted positions, a furrow-opening w means carried by the gang bars, distributers on the main frame operativeto discharge fertilizer., and seed behind the said means, means adapted for operation from the tractor to operate said dispensers, a planting attachment. an auxiliary frame having front, intermediate -and rear bars,ff"' means pivoting said front1 bars tothe gang ,vbars,l

a flexible suspending element connected to' the main frame and said front bars, lugs `on the front bars rearwardly of the pivotal-axis of such .bars .overlapping the intermediate bars from above.;4-vv

members securing the intermediate and rear-bars? together, said intermediate bars extending inwardly beyond said members and mounting said planting attachmentrbehind said furrow-opening means inthe line of discharge from said dis,- I pensers, a flexible suspending element connected to the auxiliary frame adjacent said planting attachment and to a rear bar, a device on one 'of the members adjustably-engageable by the second mentioned flexible suspending element, furrowl coverer means carried by the rear bars operative behind said planting attachmet;`and press` wheel means carried by the rear bars in the rear of said coverer means.

ARTHUR M. MOBLEY. 

